WASHINGTON, June 4: The US capital is abuzz with reports that the Bush administration is urging Pakistan’s new rulers not to complicate the domestic political situation and instead focus on fighting extremists.

Diplomatic sources told Dawn that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also raised the issue with ambassador-designate Hussain Huqqani at a meeting at her office on Tuesday.

The ambassador has already had a series of meetings with key US officials since his arrival in Washington a week ago. He had his first such meeting with Commander US Central Command General David Petraeus on Thursday and on Friday he met Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, apparently to present his letter of credence.